Train control



SHARP. 1mm CONTROL. v APPLICATION FILEDUANJL WZI. 1,382,561 Patented June 21,1921.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY 0 SHARP. TRAIN CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1 7 I921 Patnted Junezi, 1921.

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, INVENTOR ATI'ORNEY 0,. SHARP. TRAIN 'CONTROL.

APPLICATION 'FILED JAN-J73 192l- Patented June 21", 192 1'.

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ATTORNEY 4C. SHARP.

TRAIN CONTROL. APPLICATION FltED JAN-17. 1921.

: 1,382,56 1 Patented June 21, 1921.

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UNITED STATES CHARLIE SHARP, OF DIZNEY, KENTUCKY.

TRAIN con'raon Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. J ne 21, 1921.

Application filed January 17, 1921. Serial No.'437,978.

To aZZ whomitmay concern: p 1

Be it known that I, CHARLIE SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residin at Dizney, in the county of Harlan and tate of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train Controls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a train control apparatus, and wherein the occupied block controls the track mechanism of remote blocks in advance of and'at the rear of the occupied block, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in plan of the track mechanism and shoes.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the shoes.

Fig. 5 is a view of the train carried mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional-view through the plunger. 7 v

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism used in connection with a switch.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10

indicates the rails of a trackway which are divided in the usual well-known manner, into blocks A, eachblock being equipped with a track mechanism to be presently described. This mechanism comprises a motor 11 the armature shaft of which is indicated at 12, which shaft carries a'pinion 13. Ar ranged in parallelism with the armature shaft 12-is a shaft 14 which carries a large gear 15 and a drum 16. Connected tothe drum is a cable 17 adapted to be wound about and unwound from the drum, which cable actuates the shoes 18 which are capable of vertical movement and arranged adjacent the rails 10. These shoes are connected to a lever 19 by means of connecting rods 20,

is connected in an electric circuit which is adapted to be closed by the wheels and axles of the train in a particular block, so that the occupied block controls the track mechanism of the remote blocks both in front and at the rear of the occupied block. With each circuit, use is made of a wet battery 22, one of these batteries being arranged between every block as shown, the blocks being preferably one-half a mile apart.

Now, assuming that there is a train occupying one of the blocks indicated at X in the drawings, the circuit is closed by the wheels and axles of the train in remote blocks in advance and at the rear of the occupied block. For instance, the current from the battery 22 of the block X flows through the wire 23 forwardly in advance of the occupied block to energize the motor.

11 of. a block remote from the occupied block "and in advance of the block. As the motoriwith which the wire 23 is connected operates, the pinion 13 meshing with the gear 15 rotates the shaft 14, thereby winding the cable 17 about the'drum. The cable actuates the lever 19 which in turn moves the shoes 18 vertically from an inactive to an active position. The current passes through .the motor, flows through the wire 24 to the rail 10, following the rails to the train wheels, through the latter to the return rail 25, and from there back to the battery 22 in the block X. Leading from the battery in the adjacent block is a wire 26 which conveysv the current from the battery through the motor in the block at the rear of theoccupied block, the circuit being completed in the same manner as that just described in connection with the block in advance of the train or occupied block;

The train carried mechanism includes a tripping block 30 which is supported by a verticalrod 31, the upper end of this rod being connected to one branch 32 of a bell crank lever which is'pivoted, as at 33. The opposite branch 34 of this lever engages a spring pressed sliding bolt 35 having one end normally disposed beneath the horizontally arranged lever 36 to support the latter in this position. Suspended from the lever 36 is a spring 37 The lever is connected to the stem of the steam outlet valve 38. A rod 39 connects this valve lever 36 to the steam intake valve 40 so thatthe inlet and valves above mentioned; In practice,when the shoes 18 are moved vertically 1117a manner above described roman active to an inactive position, they are arranged to obstruct the passage of the tripping block of the train carrying: mechanism. As the block 30 moves from one of the shoes the rod 31 is moved upwardly imparting movement to the bell crank lever, whereupon the branch 34 of this bellcrank lever retracts the sliding boltv35v against the tension of itsspring.

When the bolt 35 has retracted, the valve lever 36 is released and is pulled downwardly under theinfluence of the spring 37. As thislever is moved in this direction,"the steam inlet valve 40 which is connected to the lever 36 by means of the rod 39isclosed. Simultaneous with the closing of this valve, the steam outlet valve 38 isopened permitting the escape of steam from the cylinder 41. With the escape of steam from the cylinder the piston 42 is moved toward oneend of the cylinder during which time the air control valve 44 is opened by reason of its connection with the piston rod thereby applying thebrakes to the train causing the latter to stop. A small. chain 45 is connected at one end'of a lever 47 associated with the steam intake valve, the opposite 7 end of this chain being connected to'the rod 48 which is used only by the-firemen upon orders from the engineer or conductor of the train. The rod 48 is held in any adjusted position by the teeth'49enga mg the openings in a support 50throughw ich the rod is slidably mounted. This rod may be i locked against movement in any suitable '45 manner such as is indicated at 51, it being understoodthat the rod is only used upon 7 special orders when it is necessary to bring one train close enough to another in an 00- cupied block to assist the latter in moving .7

over an incline or the like. 1

In Fig; 7 I have shown the track mechanism for use in connection with a switch or siding, wherein indicatesswitch points,

the latter being connected by the bars 61, one 7 when theswitch is arranged for the siding;

While it is believed that 'from the foregoing description the natureand advantages of the invention will be readily apparent,I desire to have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown andjdescribed and that such changes may be resorted towhen desiredv asifall withinlthe scope of-what is claimed" i What I claim, is

1.-Inan automatic trainstopping apparatus, the combination with the lines of rails of the trackway divided into blocks, and of mechanism locatedin each block and: comprising'a motor, a drum, driving connections between said motor and drum, shoescap'able of vertical movement, a lever pivoted at a point between its ends, connecting. rodsassociating the-shoes withsaid lever, a connection between said lever and drum, and an electriccircuit including said'motor. and a source of energy and adapted to'be closed by the wheelsand axles of a train in another block. I

2. Inran automatic train stopping appa- V ratus, the combination with the linesof rails of'the-trackway divided into blocks, and of mechanism "located in'eachiblock and comprising a motor, a drum, drivingiconnections between said motor and drum, shoes capable of vertical movement, a lever plvoted at a point between itsends, connections between the lever and said' shoes, a cable connecting the lever and drum,'and adapted to be wound about and unwound from the latter, and; an electric circuit including said motor and asource of'ener'gy' and adaptedto be closed by the wheels and axles of a train in another'block. 7 7 4 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 7 CHARLIE SHARP. 

